Federal 100 winner: Paul A. Ricketts

Mar 23, 2009

Paul A. Ricketts

Senior IT security officer

Nuclear Regulatory Commission

Ricketts reports directly to the commission’s chief information security officer and is credited with eliminating material weaknesses in NRC’s compliance with the requirements of the Federal Information Security Management Act.

Ricketts was hired to correct serious deficiencies that had been found in the commission’s FISMA compliance. Within seven months, he completed 13 system certifications and accreditations, performed critical tests, completed all system contingency plans and brought the NRC up to grade.

“Despite having only been with the agency less than a year, Paul has been a major proponent and executor of change and improvements at the NRC and in the agency’s IT security program,” said Darren Ash, NRC's deputy executive director for corporate management.

FCW investigated efforts by the departments of Defense and Veterans Affairs to improve a joint data repository on military and veteran suicides. Something as impersonal and mundane as incomplete datasets could be exacerbating a national tragedy.